Senate approves Senator Nancy Cassis' SAVE the Children program
 
March 1, 2008

LANSING - The state Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill to help prevent early learning problems and give students the skills they need to succeed in school and life, said Sen. Nancy Cassis, sponsor of the SAVE the Children legislation.

"This program has transformed students and teachers through its holistic approach to overcoming learning obstacles," said Cassis, R-Novi. "By intervening early, we help ensure long-term academic and life success for our young people."

Senate Bill 1039 would empower school districts to identify problems early, intervene before children begin to struggle, and give students the skills to succeed. The measure would allow intermediate school districts to develop model early intervening programs for children in kindergarten through third grade. The ISDs would make the programs available to their constituent districts and public school academies.

Under Cassis' proposal, each district's SAVE program would instruct classroom teachers and support staff on how to monitor individual student learning and how to provide specific support or learning strategies to students as early as possible to reduce inappropriate referrals to special education.

"This constitutes a team approach," said Cassis. "Teachers, parents, educational staff, and other school faculty members all work together to diagnose problems and implement solutions."

The SAVE program is modeled after the Early Learning Success Initiative, a pilot project in the six Northville elementary schools. Data have shown the initiative to be very effective. The program has documented results that show children can become competent learners and the need for costly special education services is significantly reduced.

"As Dr. Sornson reminded us in committee, it makes sense to help students academically when they are young. This greatly increases their chances of graduating from high school and becoming productive citizens," said Cassis.

Dr. Robert Sornson is the president and founder of the Early Learning Foundation in Brighton. Sornson, who helped start the Early Learning Success Initiative when he was the director of Special Services for Northville Public Schools, testified in support of SB 1039 at a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Education.

SB 1039 now heads to the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.